Boshville

B. 27

Carmosole knew something had happened before she saw the cracks on her skin. The scream was loud enough to wake the dead and it could have only come from one person. "We need to leave now!" Fiona rushed her out of the house they were in.

Carmosole saw the difference in the streets. The feds we're still everywhere but the Ivocians were changing. The aliens gasped as their true skin rose to the surface. The soldiers were paralyzed with fear. Many dropped their weapons and ran away. "Let's go!" Fiona dragged Carmosole out of her thoughts.

Carmosole held her hands and they teleported back to the house. Fiona had to release Carmosole because her hands were boiling hot. Carmosole closed her eyes and embraced her nature. It had been fifty years and that was a time too long.

Zee watched his body as the original skin returned. His chest was shielded by the armor-like  covering. It was a lavender bronze color. The sleeveless cloak in the same color was dressed beautifully on him. His human feet morphed into boot covered ones. His muscles were significantly bigger. His hair tainted to lilac purple. His white beady eyes appeared on the face with two holes for breathing. His mouth was filled with razor sharp teeth hence the reason for renomones communication.

The pounding reduced. Natalie opened her eyes slowly. The world seemed brighter through the new eyes. She stood up carefully. Natalie felt even taller. Her armor outfit was of no surprise to her. She was much muscular and her brunette hair had been changed to a wavy shoulder length lilac purple one. Her canines were sharper and lips were smaller.

She shrieked at the sight of Zee. "You look huge". She said. Her canines grazed her lower teeth painfully but she could manage. She noticed a carving on his forehead. It looked like a cross between a pink rose and a water lily. "That's what Uliac flowers look like". He explained. Natalie nodded in understanding.

Casper and Moss came running outside. Natalie gloated internally at how much taller she was compared to him. "Whoa!" Casper's jaw dropped. "You dropped your tongue". She teased. "I don't believe it", Moss smiled with admiration. He hadn't seen Ivocians in this form before. It was spectacular and something about the form screamed power.

"Natalie!" Carmosole called out once she and Fiona appeared. Carmosole was in a dress like outfit unlike Natalie who had pants on. Her hair was packed up in a messy bun and her boots were knee-length. "I'm glad you're okay". Carmosole hugged her neice. Natalie was not taller than Carmosole though.

The aunt pulled away and slapped her brother's arm. "I am certain you are to blamed for this". She glared. Zee did not argue because it was the truth. "Let's go inside before hunters come". Carmosole ushered them all inside.

"This is still weird". Casper told his best friend. "I don't feel different on the inside", Natalie shrugged, "and I think my hair rocks". The two laughed.

Fortin and Bartin joined them in the gathering. "That was one heck of an upgrade". Bartin joked as usual. Natalie rolled her eyes and smiled. Her eye roll was unsuccessful though since her eyeballs were bigger. Tristan also came down. He looked just similar to Zee except for the big orb above his head.

"Is that?" Natalie scrunched her face. She didn't want to believe that babies were born from orbs on their planet. "You know the answer". Tristan gave her a knowing look. "That's just creepy". She shook her head in utter disagreement.

"The feds have backed off for now", Carmosole brought their minds to the issue at hand, "we don't know how long we have till they regroup and attack". "The Gladiator has eyes everywhere. He knows and he is coming". Zee added.

Alexis and Evie walked in that moment. "No one said it was time for a costume change". Evie laughed. "Not the time". Alexis cautioned her. She shrugged and asked, "how does it feel?" "We have bigger things to worry about". Zee gave her a stern look.

"We don't have time to find the spaceships". Zee felt defeated even if they had fought nothing yet. "We can try to create our own army". Casper suddenly said. They all turned to him for more explanation. "There are metahumans and aliens in the feds' camp", Casper continued, "most of them have been brainwashed. If I can focus my powers, I think I can get them to fight with us". "Are you insane?!" Moss instantly yelled, "talking in their heads was hard enough. This is suicide".

"There's not gonna be enough time to get there and back before the Vashaks attack". Fortin disputed. "Carmosole can teleport me there", Casper argued, "we'll meet up with you guys". "We were lucky to escape the first time". Moss used the matter-of-factly tone. "I can handle myself". Casper was getting pissed at Moss's overprotective side.

"We can leave the fights for later", Zee raised an eyebrow, "we need to find a way to round up our kinds. Being spread around makes it easier to hunt".  "That's impossible", Tristan said in a stressed voice, "we'll never make it". "Fiona, can you check if you can get access to Dollytown? We need them here too". Fiona nodded and left the room.

"We know that he wants Natalie", Alexis reasoned, "he gets her and we meet our graves". "Unfortunately, our only defense centers around her too". Bartin quipped.

Natalie went silent. She was back in the spot where the weight of the world was on her shoulders. They want to protect me but I am the only one that can protect them. She thought. Her head was spinning. Two fight lessons were not enough to take on an army regardless of the powers within her.

Tristan rubbed against her back. Natalie gave him sad eyes. He continued the movement as if saying 'calm down, calm down'. Natalie took in a deep breath and relaxed. "I think Casper is right", she finally said, "we need all the weapons we can use". Moss wore a disapproving expression.

Tristan wanted to speak up but he felt a sharp pain in his head. "Oh no!" He muttered. Zee was by his side in seconds. "You okay?" Zee asked worriedly. Tristan could only shake his head. The pain was too much. "I think his stressed frame is forcing him into labor". Fortin concluded. They all stared at Tristan with wide eyes.

Carmosole helped him to lay on the couch. "Today has officially gone fully south". She exhaled in frustration. Tristan somehow fell asleep and they decided to let him be. They had tasking matters to handle. Fiona rejoined them with no good news.

Their worries were multiplied by the loud automobile sound. They all came outside. Natalie was stunned at the sight. Spaceships filled the sky like a mob of birds. There were about five dozen. The mother ship hovered over Boshville like a blanket. "We've got big problems". She said to no one in particular.

Natalie noticed something else. The once quiet streets were flooding with Ivocians. "They traced you". Zee whispered to her to clear up the confusion. Natalie nodded. Her mind was still preoccupied with the spaceships.

A few of the ships landed and Natalie felt like her nightmare had come to past. The reptilian aliens emerged while heavily armed. Their blasters were up to twenty inches long. Their spiked tails left nothing of a good impression. Natalie hated how terrified she was of their diamond shaped pupils.

The petrified shouts of panicked humans who ran in all directions intensified the atmosphere. The Ivocians held onto themselves in fear too for they knew their warriors were long gone.

A hoverboard came out of the mother ship. The composure of the Vashak on it told Natalie that he was the leader. The Gladiator.

Intense but interesting. Things are about to go down. I can't wait!

Love you,

Josy💜